One day, I set off from my house to find a place that intrigued me. The heat of the midday sun was oppressive as I walked past some building works. I did a double take as i glanced between two unfinished buildings. There, an old woman in clothing lay on the dust rubble. The terrible thought crossed my mind that she might be dead.
Feeling quite helpless, I approached her. Her face was well wrinkeld and sun kissed. She looked quite beautiful but very ill. As a reflex, I reached into my pocket to find some money for her to survive for a few months. I felt like the "kind stranger".
Without a common language, she looked at me with the wisdom and pity that could burn into a soul. She weakly pushed back the money. I was left shocked. Her eyes were mocking me. It took at least a kilometre of walking to realise I was quite a fool. She needed shade, a bottle of water and possibly some human comfort.
That evening, I sat analysing my material version of "kindness". This beautiful woman had given me something that i will carry for the rest of my life. When I look bac upon the experience, I hope my face carries that same wise smile that once mocked me.
